U.S. patent number 5,325,144 [Application Number 08/046,754] was granted by the patent office on 1994-06-28 for photographic film curling correcting method and apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Katsuhiko Tanaka, Sumio Yoshikawa.
United States Patent |
5,325,144 |
Yoshikawa , et al. |
June 28, 1994 |
Photographic film curling correcting method and apparatus
Abstract
A photographic film curling correcting method and apparatus for
correcting curling of a photographic film generated when the
photographic film is stored for a long time in a cartridge in a
state in which the photographic film is taken up around a spool
shaft in a form of a roll, comprising the steps of: curvilinearly
conveying the photographic film, which is withdrawn from the
cartridge, so that the curling of the photographic film generated
by taking up of the photographic film around the shaft becomes an
opposite direction; and relaxing the curling by heating the
photographic film while the photographic film is being
curvilinearly conveyed, and taking up the photographic film, whose
curling has been relaxed, into the cartridge again while cooling
the photographic film. The curling of the photographic film can be
corrected before developing processing when the photographic film
is initially printed and before printing processing when the
photographic film is printed a second time or times thereafter.
Inventors: |
Yoshikawa; Sumio (Kanagawa,
JP), Tanaka; Katsuhiko (Kanagawa, JP) |
Assignee: |
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
(Kanagawa, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
14247642 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/046,754 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1993 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20, 1992 [JP] |
|
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4-099448 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/612;
396/646 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03D
15/08 (20130101); G03D 13/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03D
13/00 (20060101); G03D 15/00 (20060101); G03D
15/08 (20060101); G03D 003/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;264/160 ;242/56
;354/318-322 ;355/30 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rutledge; D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak &
Seas
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A photographic film curling correcting method for correcting
curling of photographic film generated when said photographic film
is stored for a long time in a cartridge in which said photographic
film is taken up around a shaft in a form of a roll and is
accommodated, comprising the steps of:
curvilinearly conveying said photographic film which is withdrawn
from said cartridge, around a heat roller so that the curling of
said photographic film generated by taking up of said photographic
film around said shaft takes on an opposite direction; and
relaxing the curling by heating said photographic film with said
heat roller while said photographic film is being curvilinearly
conveyed around said heat roller, and taking up said photographic
film, whose curling has been relaxed, into said cartridge again
while cooling said photographic film.
2. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus for correcting
curling of photographic film generated when said photographic film
is stored for a long time in a cartridge in which said photographic
film is taken up around a shaft in a form of a roll and is
accommodated, comprising:
a loading portion in which said cartridge is loaded;
conveying means for conveying said photographic film from said
cartridge, which is loaded in said loading portion, in one of a
direction of withdrawing said photographic film and a direction of
taking up said photographic film;
withdrawing control means for controlling said conveying means and
withdrawing said photographic film from said cartridge;
a heat roller around which said photographic film withdrawn from
said cartridge is trained in a direction opposite to the direction
of taking up said photographic film onto said shaft, a surface of
said heat roller being heated by a heating means so that said heat
roller heats said trained photographic film;
an accommodating portion for temporarily accommodating said
photographic film heated by said heat roller;
detecting means for detecting that said photographic film has been
completely withdrawn from said cartridge;
taking up control means for controlling said conveying means to
reversely convey said photographic film from said accommodating
portion along a same conveying path and for taking up said
photographic film into said cartridge again when said detecting
means detects that said photographic film has been completely
withdrawn; and,
cooling means for cooling said photographic film when said
photographic film is taken up by said taking up control means.
3. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 2, wherein said heat roller applies a temperature exceeding
glass transition temperature to said photographic film.
4. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 2, wherein a surface temperature of said heat roller is
raised from a time when a leading end portion, in the direction of
withdrawing, of said photographic film is trained around said heat
roller to a time when a trailing end portion is trained around said
heat roller.
5. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 2, wherein when said photographic film is withdrawn from said
cartridge by said conveying means, said photographic film is
conveyed at high speed at a leading end portion thereof, and a
conveying speed decreases in accordance with an approaching of a
trailing end portion.
6. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 2, wherein when said photographic film is withdrawn from said
cartridge by said conveying means, said conveying means conveys
said photographic film at low speed, and when said photographic
film is taken up into said cartridge, said conveying means conveys
said photographic film at high speed.
7. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus for correcting
curling of photographic film generated when said photographic film
is stored for a long time in a cartridge in which said photographic
film is taken up around a shaft in a form of a roll and is
accommodated, comprising:
a loading portion in which said cartridge is loaded;
a heat roller whose surface is heated by a heating means, and which
corrects curling of said photographic film;
conveying means for completely withdrawing and taking up said
photographic film when said photographic film has not been subject
to developing processing, and for withdrawing and taking up only a
leading end portion, upon which images are not printed when said
photographic film has been subject to developing processing, when
said photographic film is taken up again into said cartridge after
having been withdrawn from said cartridge loaded in said loading
portion and having been trained around said heat roller in a
direction opposite to a direction of taking up said photographic
film onto said shaft; and,
cooling means for cooling said photographic film when said
photographic film is taken up by said conveying means.
8. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus for correcting
curling of photographic film generated when said photographic film
is stored in a cartridge in which said photographic film is taken
up around a spool shaft in a form of a roll and is accommodated,
said photographic film having a leader portion whose leading edge
is cut obliquely from one transverse direction end thereof to
another transverse direction end thereof, said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising:
a loading portion in which said cartridge is loaded;
a first guide path guiding said photographic film withdrawn from
said cartridge loaded in said loading portion, a continuous or
intermittent first stepped portion being formed from a side towards
a leadingmost edge of said leader portion and along a transverse
direction of said photographic film at a leading edge, in a
conveying direction of said photographic film, of said first guide
path;
a heat roller around which said photographic film is trained in a
direction opposite to a direction of taking up said photographic
film into said cartridge, a surface of said heat roller being
heated by said heating means so that said heat roller heats said
trained photographic film; and
a second guide path guiding said photographic film, which is
transferred from said first guide path, to said heat roller, a
continuous or intermittent second stepped portion being formed at
an edge of said second guide path which opposes said first guide
path so that convex and concave portions of said second stepped
portion and said first stepped portion of said first guide path
correspond to each other.
9. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 8, wherein said second stepped portion of said second guide
path is formed by a base portion and a protruding tongue portion,
an inclined surface being formed at said tongue portion in a
direction of thickness of said photographic film.
10. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 9, wherein an inclined surface is formed at said base portion
in the direction of thickness of said photographic film, an angle
of the inclined surface of said tongue portion being greater than
an angle of the inclined surface of said base portion.
11. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus in which a
photographic film, which is accommodated in a cartridge in a state
in which said photographic film is taken up around a spool shaft in
a form of a roll, is withdrawn by a driving means, said
photographic film is heated while curved in a direction opposite to
a direction of curling generated by said photographic film being
taken up around said spool shaft, and said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus corrects the curling of said
photographic film, and thereafter, said photographic film is
accommodated in said cartridge again, said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising:
a loading portion provided with a plurality of loading grooves in
which said cartridges are loaded, and moving said loading grooves
successively to a photographic film withdrawing position;
a driving shaft protruding from a bottom portion of said loading
groove into said loading groove, said driving shaft being provided
with a shaft portion engageable with said spool shaft of said
cartridge and being provided with a gear attached to said shaft
portion and receiving driving force from said driving means so as
to rotate, said driving shaft being movable in an axial direction
thereof;
urging means for urging said driving shaft to move axially in a
direction of said loading groove;
retaining means for retaining said cartridge when said cartridge is
accommodated in said loading groove and said shaft portion of said
driving shaft is moved axially against urging force of said urging
means; and,
releasing means for releasing said cartridge, for which curling
correction processing has been completed, from being retained by
said retaining means in accordance with positioning movement of
said loading portion.
12. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus in which a
photographic film, which is accommodated in a cartridge in a state
in which said photographic film is taken up around a spool shaft in
a form of a roll, is withdrawn by a driving means, said
photographic film is heated while curved in a direction opposite to
a direction of curling generated by said photographic film being
taken up around said spool shaft, and said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus corrects the curling of said
photographic film, and thereafter, said photographic film is
accommodated in said cartridge again, said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising:
a loading portion provided with a plurality of loading grooves in
which said cartridges are loaded, and moving said loading grooves
successively to a photographic film withdrawing position;
a driving shaft protruding from a bottom portion of said loading
groove into said loading groove, said driving shaft being provided
with a shaft portion engageable with said spool shaft of said
cartridge and being provided with a gear attached to said shaft
portion and receiving driving force from said driving means so as
to rotate, said driving shaft being movable in an axial direction
thereof;
urging means for urging said driving shaft to move axially in a
direction of said loading groove;
a sensor detecting existence of said cartridge in said loading
groove by detecting an axial direction position of said driving
shaft; and,
driving controlling means for controlling driving by said driving
means to withdraw said photographic film based on results of
detection of said sensor.
13. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus in which a
photographic film, which is accommodated in a cartridge in a state
in which said photographic film is taken up around a spool shaft in
a form of a roll, is withdrawn by a driving means, said
photographic film is heated while curved in a direction opposite to
a direction of curling generated by said photographic film being
taken up around said spool shaft, and said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus corrects the curling of said
photographic film, and thereafter, said photographic film is
accommodated in said cartridge again, said photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising:
a loading portion provided with a plurality of loading grooves in
which said cartridges are loaded, and moving said loading grooves
successively to a photographic film withdrawing position;
a driving shaft protruding from a bottom portion of said loading
groove into said loading groove, said driving shaft being provided
with a shaft portion engageable with said spool shaft of said
cartridge and being provided with a gear attached to said shaft
portion and receiving driving force from said driving means so as
to rotate, said driving shaft being movable in an axial direction
thereof;
rotation controlling means for rotating a gear of said driving
means, which meshes with said gear when said loading portion is
moving so as to position said loading grooves of said loading
portion, temporarily along a direction of movement of said loading
portion.
14. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus for correcting
curling of a photographic film generated when said photographic
film is stored in a cartridge in which said photographic film is
taken up around a spool shaft in a form of a roll and is
accommodated, comprising:
a loading portion in which said cartridge is loaded;
a heat roller around which said photographic film is trained in a
direction opposite to a direction in which said photographic film
is taken up into said cartridge, a surface of said heat roller
being heated by a heating means so that said trained photographic
film is heated, flanges being formed on said heat roller in a
direction of thickness of said heat roller, said photographic film
withdrawn from said cartridge loaded in said loading portion being
guided between said flanges;
a first roller, a portion of said first roller being accommodated
in said flanges of said heat roller so as to contact a
circumferential surface of said heat roller, said first roller
having adhesion so that dirt clinging to said circumferential
surface adheres to said first roller; and,
dirt removing means disposed at a position other than between said
flanges for removing dirt adhering to said first roller.
15. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 14, wherein said dirt removing means is formed by a second
roller which contacts a circumferential surface of said first
roller and which has adhesion higher than the adhesion of said
first roller, said second roller being removed by being moved in an
axial direction thereof.
16. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus for correcting
curling of a photographic film generated when said photographic
film is stored for a long time in a cartridge in which said
photographic film is taken up around a spool shaft in a form of a
roll and is accommodated, comprising:
a loading portion in which said cartridge is loaded;
a heat roller around which said photographic film withdrawn from a
said cartridge is trained in a direction opposite to a direction in
which said photographic film is taken up onto said spool shaft, a
surface of said heat roller being heated by a heating means so that
said heat roller heats said trained photographic film;
an accommodating portion taking up said photographic film heated by
said heat roller onto a take-up shaft and accommodating said heat
roller;
conveying means for rotating said heat roller at a predetermined
rotational speed and for conveying said photographic film at a
constant speed from said spool shaft to said accommodating portion
or from said accommodating portion to said spool shaft;
first rotating means engageable with said spool shaft of said
cartridge positioned at a predetermined position of said loading
portion, for rotating said spool shaft at torque lower than
rotational torque of said heat roller;
second rotating means engaging with said take-up shaft, for
rotating said take-up shaft at torque lower than the rotational
torque of said heat roller; and
switching means for switching between a first position, at which
said first rotating means is rotated at a speed slower than a speed
of said heat roller and said second rotating means is rotated at a
speed faster than the speed of said heat roller when said
photographic film is withdrawn from said spool shaft, and a second
position, at which said first rotating means is rotated at a speed
faster than the speed of said heat roller and said second rotating
means is rotated at a speed slower than the speed of said heat
roller when said photographic film is taken up onto said spool
shaft.
17. A photographic film curling correcting apparatus according to
claim 16, wherein said first rotating means and said second
rotating means are rotated by driving force of said conveying means
via a friction means, and a difference in rotation of said spool
shaft, said heat roller and said take-up shaft is absorbed by said
friction means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographic film curling
correcting method and apparatus for correcting curling of
photographic film generated when the photographic film is stored in
a cartridge in which the photographic film is taken up around a
shaft in the form of a roll and is accommodated.
2. Description of the Related Art
After being photographed, a photographic film is loaded and
accommodated in a cartridge. In a so-called strip processing
developing apparatus in which the photographic film is withdrawn
from the cartridge and is subject to developing processing, it is
detected that the photographic film is completely withdrawn from
the cartridge, the final end of the photographic film is cut, and
processing is effected continuously. A guiding member, called a
short leader, is adhered to the leading end portion of the
photographic film. As the short leader is guided and conveyed,
developing processing and photosensitive processing are effected.
In this type of strip processing, curling of the leading end
portion of the photographic film is eliminated by the short leader.
However, when the photographic film is taken up onto the spool,
curling is most strong at the lowermost layer (i.e., the trailing
end portion). Therefore, when the photographic film is curled in
the form of a loop, the loop is crushed by a roller, and the
photographic film is bent.
In recent years, a system has been proposed in which the
photographed photographic film is taken up again into the cartridge
and returned to the customer in that way. In such a case, it is
possible to have the tongue remain out of the cartridge by
reversely rotating the spool shaft on which the photographic film
is accommodated. Therefore, when reprinting or the like is
requested, the cartridge is loaded into the printing apparatus, and
printing processing is effected.
The curling of the trailing end portion of the photographic film
taken up in this type of cartridge is strong.
Further, as cameras are being made more compactly, the idea of
accommodating photographic films in small cartridges has also been
conceived. As in the above-described case, curling is strong in
these small cartridges as well.
As a result, measures to correct curling in advance, such as
attaching a short leader to the trailing end portion of the
photographic film as well, have been proposed. However, when
reprinting or the like is requested after initial printing
(simultaneous printing) has been completed, i.e., for the second
printing or times thereafter, the photographic film is directly
loaded into a printing apparatus without being processed into
strips. Therefore, the film must be dealt with in a state in which
the curling thereof is strong.
It is best to continuously provide a conveying path, which can
smoothly guide the curled photographic film, from the photographic
film withdrawing position to the heating processing position.
However, for example, when the loading portion into which the
photographic film is loaded is a cassette-type loading portion
which can be separated from the conveying path of the photographic
film, it is necessary to transfer the photographic film between the
loading portion and the conveying path of the photographic
film.
However, because there is strong curling in the photographic film,
the leading edge of the photographic film enters into the gap of
the transferring portion at which the photographic film is
transferred from the loading portion to the photographic film
conveying path. Trouble in the conveying of the photographic film,
such as jamming or the like, may therefore occur.
When a plurality of curled photographic films are processed, the
photographic films are withdrawn one by one, and workability is
poor. Therefore, a cassette-type loading portion in which a
plurality of cartridges can be loaded is used. The plurality of
loaded cartridges are successively positioned at a photographic
film withdrawing position. The respective spool shafts of the
cartridges loaded in the loading portion are respectively connected
to gears provided in the loading portion. These gears mesh with a
driving gear at the photographic film withdrawing position. In this
way, a plurality of photographic films can be automatically
processed.
The photographic film, which has undergone curling correcting
processing, is taken up again into the cartridge. Therefore, when
the loading portion is viewed from the exterior thereof, it cannot
be determined if the cartridges loaded therein have been processed
or have not yet been processed. Further, when the loading portion
is not completely filled with cartridges, an empty section of the
loading portion is positioned at the photographic film withdrawing
position, and the apparatus may make an error in operation.
Further, the processing time is made longer than necessary.
Moreover, when the cartridges are positioned successively, a shock
is generated when the gears connected to the respective cartridges
mesh with the driving gear at the predetermined position. There is
therefore the fear that a loss of synchronism may be generated in
the motor due to the step-movement of the loading portion.
Generally, a drum is optimal for curving the photographic film in a
direction opposite to the curling thereof. A pair of flanges are
formed on the drum in order to stably convey the photographic film.
The photographic film is guided and conveyed by the pair of
flanges.
Further, it is preferable that the outer circumference of the drum
contacts a drive roller and that the drum is rotated by the driving
of the drive roller because of the reduction in the torque of the
shaft of the drum and because a heating means is accommodated
within the drum.
However, when dirt adheres to the outer circumference of the drum
and especially to the surface around which the photographic film is
trained, the photographic film may be damaged or it may not be
possible to effect stable heating processing or the like.
Therefore, the outer circumference of the drive roller has
adhesion, and the dirt adhering to the circumferential surface of
the drum is removed in accordance with the rotation of the drive
roller (i.e., the dirt adheres to the drive roller). When a
predetermined amount of dirt has adhered to the heat roller, the
heat roller may be changed.
However, because the flanges are formed on the drum, a portion of
the drive roller is accommodated between the flanges. Therefore, it
is necessary to remove the drum as well when the drive roller is
changed when the predetermined amount of dirt is to be removed
therefrom. Workability therefore deteriorates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention
is to provide a photographic film curling correcting method and
apparatus in which curling of photographic film can be corrected
before developing processing when a film is initially printed and
before printing processing when the photographic film is printed a
second time or times thereafter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
photographic film curling correcting apparatus in which a strongly
curled photographic film can be smoothly transferred between
separated conveying paths of the photographic film.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
photographic film curling correcting apparatus in which it can be
determined from the exterior of a loading portion if cartridges
loaded therein have been subject to curling correcting processing
or have not yet been subject to curling correcting processing.
In addition to the above-described objects, an object of the
present invention is to provide a photographic film curling
correcting apparatus in which the existence of a cartridge within
the loading portion is detected, and curling correcting operations
are not effected when there is no photographic film within the
loading portion so that there is no waste in processing time.
Another object is to provide a photographic film curling correcting
apparatus in which the loading portion is moved smoothly.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
photographic film curling correcting apparatus in which members
used for removing dirt can be easily removed without interfering
with any other members so that maintenance workability can be
improved.
Another object is to provide a photographic film curling correcting
apparatus in which irregularities in density, deformation, and
damage caused by heating can be suppressed and the curling of the
photographic film can be corrected.
A first aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting method for correcting curling of photographic
film generated when the photographic film is stored for a long time
in a cartridge in which the photographic film is taken up around a
shaft in a form of a roll and is accommodated, comprising the steps
of: curvilinearly conveying the photographic film, which is
withdrawn from the cartridge, so that the curling of the
photographic film generated by taking up of the photographic film
around the shaft becomes an opposite direction; and relaxing the
curling by heating the photographic film while the photographic
film is being curvilinearly conveyed, and taking up the
photographic film, whose curling has been relaxed, into the
cartridge again while cooling the photographic film.
A second aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus for correcting curling of photographic
film generated when the photographic film is stored for a long time
in a cartridge in which the photographic film is taken up around a
shaft in a form of a roll and is accommodated, comprising: a
loading portion in which the cartridge is loaded; conveying means
for conveying the photographic film from the cartridge, which is
loaded in the loading portion, in one of a direction of withdrawing
the photographic film and a direction of taking up the photographic
film; withdrawing control means for controlling the conveying means
and withdrawing the photographic film from the cartridge; a heat
roller around which the photographic film withdrawn from the
cartridge is trained in a direction opposite to the direction of
taking up the photographic film onto the shaft, a surface of the
heat roller being heated by a heating means so that the heat roller
heats the trained photographic film; an accommodating portion for
temporarily accommodating the photographic film heated by the heat
roller; detecting means for detecting that the photographic film
has been completely withdrawn from the cartridge; taking up control
means for controlling the conveying means to reversely convey the
photographic film from the accommodating portion along a same
conveying path and for taking up the photographic film into the
cartridge again when the detecting means detects that the
photographic film has been completely withdrawn; and, cooling means
for cooling the photographic film when the photographic film is
taken up by the taking up control means.
A third aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus for correcting curling of photographic
film generated when the photographic film is stored for a long time
in a cartridge in which the photographic film is taken up around a
shaft in a form of a roll and is accommodated, comprising: a
loading portion in which the cartridge is loaded; a heat roller
whose surface is heated by a heating means, and which corrects
curling of the photographic film; conveying means for completely
withdrawing and taking up the photographic film when the
photographic film has not been subject to developing processing,
and for withdrawing and taking up only a leading end portion upon
which images are not printed when the photographic film has been
subject to developing processing, when the photographic film is
taken up again into the cartridge after having been withdrawn from
the cartridge loaded in the loading portion and having been trained
around the heat roller in a direction opposite to a direction of
taking up the photographic film onto the shaft; and, cooling means
for cooling the photographic film when the photographic film is
taken up by the conveying means.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus for correcting curling of photographic
film generated when the photographic film is stored in a cartridge
in which the photographic film is taken up around a spool shaft in
a form of a roll and is accommodated, the photographic film having
a leader portion whose leading edge is cut obliquely from one
transverse direction end thereof to another transverse direction
end thereof, the photographic film curling correcting apparatus
comprising: a loading portion in which the cartridge is loaded; a
first guide path guiding the photographic film withdrawn from the
cartridge loaded in the loading portion, a continuous or
intermittent first stepped portion being formed from a side towards
a leadingmost edge of the leader portion and along a transverse
direction of the photographic film at a leading edge, in a
conveying direction of the photographic film, of the first guide
path; a heat roller around which the photographic film is trained
in a direction opposite to a direction of taking up the
photographic film into the cartridge, a surface of the heat roller
being heated up by the heating means so that the heat roller heats
the trained photographic film; and a second guide path guiding the
photographic film, which is transferred from the first guide path,
to the heat roller, a continuous or intermittent second stepped
portion being formed at an edge of the second guide path which
opposes the first guide path so that convex and concave portions of
the second stepped portion and the first stepped portion of the
first guide path correspond to each other.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus in which a photographic film, which is
accommodated in a cartridge in a state in which the photographic
film is taken up around a spool shaft in a form of a roll, is
withdrawn by a driving means, the photographic film is heated while
curved in a direction opposite to a direction of curling generated
by the photographic film being taken up around the spool shaft, and
the photographic film curling correcting apparatus corrects the
curling of the photographic film, and thereafter, the photographic
film is accommodated in the cartridge again, the photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising: a loading portion provided
with a plurality of loading grooves in which the cartridges are
loaded, and moving the loading grooves successively to a
photographic film withdrawing position; a driving shaft protruding
from a bottom portion of the loading groove into the loading
groove, the driving shaft being provided with a shaft portion
engageable with the spool shaft of the cartridge and being provided
with a gear attached to the shaft portion and receiving driving
force from the driving means so as to rotate, the driving shaft
being movable in an axial direction thereof; urging means for
urging the driving shaft to move axially in a direction of the
loading groove; retaining means for retaining the cartridge when
the cartridge is accommodated in the loading groove and the shaft
portion of the driving shaft is moved axially against urging force
of the urging means; and, releasing means for releasing the
cartridge, for which curling correction processing has been
completed, from being retained by the retaining means in accordance
with positioning movement of the loading portion.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus in which a photographic film, which is
accommodated in a cartridge in a state in which the photographic
film is taken up around a spool shaft in a form of a roll, is
withdrawn by a driving means, the photographic film is heated while
curved in a direction opposite to a direction of curling generated
by the photographic film being taken up around the spool shaft, and
the photographic film curling correcting apparatus corrects the
curling of the photographic film, and thereafter, the photographic
film is accommodated in the cartridge again, the photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising: a loading portion provided
with a plurality of loading grooves in which the cartridges are
loaded, and moving the loading grooves successively to a
photographic film withdrawing position; a driving shaft protruding
from a bottom portion of the loading groove into the loading
groove, the driving shaft being provided with a shaft portion
engageable with the spool shaft of the cartridge and being provided
with a gear attached to the shaft portion and receiving driving
force from the driving means so as to rotate, the driving shaft
being movable in an axial direction thereof; urging means for
urging the driving shaft to move axially in a direction of the
loading groove; a sensor detecting existence of the cartridge in
the loading groove by detecting an axial direction position of the
driving shaft; and, driving controlling means for controlling
driving by the driving means to withdraw the photographic film
based on results of detection of the sensor.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus in which a photographic film, which is
accommodated in a cartridge in a state in which the photographic
film is taken up around a spool shaft in a form of a roll, is
withdrawn by a driving means, the photographic film is heated while
curved in a direction opposite to a direction of curling generated
by the photographic film being taken up around the spool shaft, and
the photographic film curling correcting apparatus corrects the
curling of the photographic film, and thereafter, the photographic
film is accommodated in the cartridge again, the photographic film
curling correcting apparatus comprising: a loading portion provided
with a plurality of loading grooves in which the cartridges are
loaded, and moving the loading grooves successively to a
photographic film withdrawing position; a driving shaft protruding
from a bottom portion of the loading groove into the loading
groove, the driving shaft being provided with a shaft portion
engageable with the spool shaft of the cartridge and being provided
with a gear attached to the shaft portion and receiving driving
force from the driving means so as to rotate, the driving shaft
being movable in an axial direction thereof; rotation controlling
means for rotating a gear of the driving means, which meshes with
the gear when the loading portion is moving so as to position the
loading grooves of the loading portion, temporarily along a
direction of movement of the loading portion.
An eighth aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus for correcting curling of a
photographic film generated when the photographic film is stored in
a cartridge in which the photographic film is taken up around a
spool shaft in a form of a roll and is accommodated, comprising: a
loading portion in which the cartridge is loaded; a heat roller
around which the photographic film is trained in a direction
opposite to a direction in which the photographic film is taken up
into the cartridge, a surface of the heat roller being heated by a
heating means so that the trained photographic film is heated,
flanges being formed on the heat roller in a direction of thickness
of the heat roller, the photographic film withdrawn from the
cartridge loaded in the loading portion being guided between the
flanges; a first roller, a portion of the first roller being
accommodated in the flanges of the heat roller so as to contact a
circumferential surface of the heat roller, the first roller having
adhesion so that dirt clinging to the circumferential surface
adheres to the first roller; and, dirt removing means disposed at a
position other than between the flanges for removing dirt adhering
to the first roller.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is a photographic film
curling correcting apparatus for correcting curling of a
photographic film generated when the photographic film is stored
for a long time in a cartridge in which the photographic film is
taken up around a spool shaft in a form of a roll and is
accommodated, comprising: a loading portion in which the cartridge
is loaded; a heat roller around which the photographic film
withdrawn from the cartridge is trained in a direction opposite to
a direction in which the photographic film is taken up onto the
spool shaft, a surface of the heat roller being heated by a heating
means so that the heat roller heats the trained photographic film;
an accommodating portion taking up the photographic film heated by
the heat roller onto a take-up shaft and accommodating the heat
roller; conveying means for rotating the heat roller at a
predetermined rotational speed and for conveying the photographic
film at a constant speed from the spool shaft to the accommodating
portion or from the accommodating portion to the spool shaft; first
rotating means engageable with the spool shaft of the cartridge
positioned at a predetermined position of the loading portion, for
rotating the spool shaft at torque lower than rotational torque of
the heat roller; second rotating means engaging with the take-up
shaft, for rotating the take-up shaft at torque lower than the
rotational torque of the heat roller; and switching means for
switching between a first position, at which the first rotating
means is rotated at a speed slower than a speed of the heat roller
and the second rotating means is rotated at a speed faster than the
speed of the heat roller when the photographic film is withdrawn
from the spool shaft, and a second position, at which the first
rotating means is rotated at a speed faster than the speed of the
heat roller and the second rotating means is rotated at a speed
slower than the speed of the heat roller when the photographic film
is taken up onto the spool shaft.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention,
curling is formed in the photographic film which is taken up around
the shaft of the cartridge. The curling becomes stronger the longer
the photographic film is maintained in this state. When the
photographic film is processed, there is strong curl especially in
the trailing end portion thereof, which results in poor conveying
of the photographic film. Therefore, before processing, the
photographic film is withdrawn from the cartridge and is
curvilinearly conveyed so that the curling of the photographic film
generated by the taking up of the photographic film around the
shaft becomes an opposite direction. By heating the photographic
film as it is conveyed in a curve, the curling thereof is
relaxed.
The photographic film is taken up again into the cartridge in a
state in which curling thereof is relaxed. At this time, if the
temperature of the photographic film is high, it will again be
curled. Therefore, the photographic film whose curling has been
corrected is accommodated in the cartridge while being cooled.
A short while after, the cartridge is loaded into a developing
apparatus or a printing apparatus. The photographic film is
withdrawn from the cartridge. Because the curling thereof is weak,
the photographic film can be processed without any problems
occurring in the conveying thereof.
Namely, in the first aspect, the strong curling which results from
the photographic film being taken up around the shaft for a long
time can be relaxed before processing (developing processing or
printing processing). Therefore, for example, when a developed
photographic film is returned to a customer while accommodated in a
cartridge and thereafter, the customer requests reprinting of the
photographic film, the curling thereof can be reliably relaxed.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, when
the cartridge in loaded into the loading portion and the conveying
means is driven by the withdrawing control means, the photographic
film is withdrawn from the cartridge and is trained around the heat
roller whose surface is heated by the heating means. The direction
of the training of the photographic film is opposite to the
direction of the curling caused by the photographic film being
taken up around the shaft. Therefore, the curling of the
photographic film heated by the heat roller is relaxed. The
photographic film heated by the heat roller is temporarily
accommodated at an accommodating portion.
When the trailing end portion of the photographic film is detected
by the detecting means, the taking up control means controls the
conveying means so that the photographic film is conveyed backwards
along the same conveying path. The photographic film is cooled
while being taken up again into the cartridge.
In this way, the strong curling of the photographic film within the
cartridge is eliminated. If developing processing or printing
processing is effected within a short time, there are no problems
in conveying the photographic film during these processes.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, in a
photographic film which has been subject to developing processing,
only the curling at the leading end portion thereof presents
difficulties during printing processing. Namely, if the leading end
portion is curled, the photographic film is conveyed poorly when
sent into a film carrier.
Further, from the standpoint of the characteristics of the
photographs, it is preferable that the image surface not be heated
at a high temperature after developing processing. It is best to
avoid heating the image surface of photographic film after
developing processing. Accordingly, by applying heat to and
correcting the curling of only the leading end portion of the
photographic film where the image surface is not formed, the
conveyability of the photographic film improves, and the images are
not damaged.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, curling is
formed in the photographic film which is taken up around the shaft
of the cartridge. The curling becomes stronger the longer the
photographic film is maintained in this state. When the
photographic film is processed, there is strong curl especially in
the trailing end portion thereof, which leads to difficulty in
conveying the photographic film at a splicer, a developer, a
printer, or the like. In the fourth aspect, the cartridge is loaded
into the loading portion, and the photographic film is withdrawn
and conveyed while being guided by the first guide path. The
photographic film which passes over the first guide path is
transferred to the second guide path.
Continuous or intermittent steps are formed at the opposing
surfaces of the first guide path and the second guide path. The
leadingmost edge of the leader portion is first transferred to the
second guide path. Because the leadingmost edge is supported by the
convex portion of the first guide path, the photographic film is
transferred in a state in which the curving thereof caused by the
curling is reduced.
The leadingmost edge of the leader portion which is transferred to
the second guide path is slid and conveyed along the convex portion
of the second guide path. Therefore, the photographic film does not
enter into the gap between the first guide path and the second
guide path and is therefore transferred smoothly.
As a result, even if, for example, the loading portion is a
cassette style loading portion and is removable, the conveyability
of the photographic film does not deteriorate.
Heat is applied to correct the curling of the photographic film
which is transferred to the second guide path. Heat is applied
uniformly from the leading end to the trailing end of the
photographic film so that the curling thereof can be corrected.
The stepped portions of the first guide path and the second guide
path may be formed as convex and concave portions which mesh
together. Alternatively, the stepped portions may be formed as
inclined surfaces which are inclined from one transverse direction
end of the photographic film to the other. In this case, the step
may be formed so that the leadingmost edge of the leader portion is
first transferred to the second guide path.
In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention,
curling is formed in the photographic film which is taken up around
the shaft of the cartridge. The curling becomes stronger the longer
the photographic film is maintained in this state. When the
photographic film is processed, there is strong curl especially in
the trailing end portion thereof, which leads to difficulty in
conveying the photographic film at a splicer, a developer, a
printer, or the like. In the fifth aspect, cartridges are loaded
into a plurality of loading grooves of the loading portion. A shaft
portion of a driving shaft is protruded by the urging force of the
urging means. The cartridge is pushed in against the urging force
of the urging means and is maintained by the maintaining means.
Loading of the cartridge is thereby completed.
Thereafter, the loading portion is moved, and the photographic film
is withdrawn from the cartridge positioned at the photographic film
withdrawing position. Curling correcting processing is then
effected. After curling correcting processing has been completed,
the photographic film is again accommodated within the cartridge.
The loading portion is step-moved so that the next cartridge is
positioned at the photographic film withdrawing position. The same
processes are then effected.
After processing has been completed in the loading portion, the
held state of the cartridge by the holding means is released by the
releasing means. In this way, the driving shaft is moved in the
direction of the loading groove by the urging force of the urging
means, and a portion of the cartridge is thereby protruded from the
loading groove. Therefore, the accommodated states of cartridges
which have been processed and cartridges which have not yet been
processed are different, and it can be determined by looking at the
exterior of the cartridge if a cartridge has been subject to
processing or not.
In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, due
to the urging force of the urging means, the axial direction
position of the driving shaft is different when a cartridge is
loaded in the loading groove and when a cartridge is not loaded
therein. The sensor determines the axial direction position of the
driving shaft, and the existence of the cartridge within the
loading groove is thereby detected. When, for example, a loading
groove in which no cartridge is loaded is positioned, the driving
control means allows the driving operation for withdrawing the
photographic film to be bypassed so that operations for curling
correcting processing are not effected for an empty loading
groove.
In accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention,
curling is formed in the photographic film which is taken up around
the shaft of the cartridge. The curling becomes stronger the longer
the photographic film is maintained in this state. When the
photographic film is processed, there is strong curl especially in
the trailing end portion thereof, which leads to difficulty in
conveying the photographic film at a splicer, a developer, a
printer, or the like. In the eighth aspect, the cartridge is loaded
into the loading section, and the photographic film is withdrawn
and trained around a heat roller in a curve in a direction opposite
to the direction of the curling. The photographic film is heated so
that the curling thereof can be corrected.
When dirt adheres to the circumferential surface of the heat
roller, the photographic film trained therearound may be damaged,
or uniform heating of the photographic film may be prevented which
leads to portions of the photographic film deforming or
irregularities in density. By the dirt adhering to the first
roller, the circumferential surface of the heat roller can always
be kept clean. Because the dirt adhering to the first roller
increases over time, it is necessary to remove the dirt.
However, because a portion of the first roller is accommodated
between the pair of flanges of the heat roller, the first roller
cannot be easily removed. Therefore, in the eighth aspect, the dirt
adhering to the first roller can be remove by the dirt removing
means. The dirt removing means can be removed without interfering
with the heat roller or the first roller. Therefore, changing and
cleaning work can be effected smoothly when a predetermined amount
of dirt has accumulated on the dirt removing means.
In accordance with the ninth aspect of the present invention,
curling is formed in the photographic film which is taken up around
the shaft of the cartridge. The curling becomes stronger the longer
the photographic film is maintained in this state. When the
photographic film is processed, there is strong curl especially in
the trailing end portion thereof, which leads to difficulty in
conveying the photographic film at a splicer, a developer, a
printer, or the like. In the ninth aspect, the cartridge is loaded
into the loading portion, and the conveying means is operated when
the switching means switches to the first position. Accordingly,
the spool shaft is rotated by the first rotating means at a speed
slower than the speed at which the photographic film is conveyed at
the heat roller by the conveying means, whereas the take-up shaft
is rotated by the second rotating means at a speed faster than the
speed at which the photographic film is conveyed at the heat roller
by the conveying means. The rotational torques of both of the
shafts (the spool shaft and the take-up shaft) are lower than the
rotational torque of the heat roller. Therefore, the photographic
film is conveyed smoothly without slack and without being subject
to more tension than necessary. Further, because the conveying
speed of the photographic film conveyed by the heat roller is
constant, the amount of heat applied to the photographic film is
uniform.
Accordingly, there is no unnecessary slack or tension applied to
the photographic film, and damage to the image surface thereof can
be prevented. Further, because the photographic film is conveyed at
a constant speed at the heat roller, the heat applied for curling
correction is uniform from the leading end of the photographic film
to the trailing end thereof. Even if the density of the
photographic film is effected by heat, irregularities in the
density are not generated.
As described above, in the photographic film curling correcting
method and apparatus of the first through the third aspects, a
superior effect can be achieved in that the curling of the
photographic film can be corrected before developing processing
when the photographic film is initially printed and before printing
processing when the photographic film is printed a second time or
times thereafter.
In the photographic film curling correcting apparatus of the fourth
aspect as described above, an excellent effect can be achieved in
that the strongly curled photographic film can be smoothly
transferred between conveying paths which are separated from each
other.
The photographic film curling correcting apparatus of the first
aspect as described above has an outstanding effect in that it can
be determined by looking at cartridges loaded within the loading
portion if the cartridges have been subject to curling correcting
processing or have not yet been subject to curling correcting
processing.
Further, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, in the sixth
aspect of the present invention as described above, the existence
of a cartridge within the loading portion is detected so that
operations for curling correcting processing are not effected when
there is no cartridge. In this way, a waste in processing time can
be eliminated.
Moreover, in the seventh aspect of the present invention as
described above, when the loading portion is moved so as to
position a loading groove at the photographic film withdrawing
position, the gear of the driving means is temporarily rotated by
the rotating means in a direction along the direction of movement
of the loading portion. In this way, the shock which occurs when
this gear and the gear attached to the driving shaft mesh can be
lessened, and the loading portion can be moved smoothly.
In the photographic film curling correcting apparatus of the eighth
aspect of the present invention as described above, a superior
effect is achieved in that a member used for removing dirt can be
easily removed without interfering with any other members so that
maintenance workability can be improved.
The photographic film curling correcting apparatus of the ninth
aspect of the present invention as described above has an
outstanding effect in that damage, such as irregularities in
density and deformation, to the photographic film which is caused
by heating can be repressed and the curling of the photographic
film can be corrected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a negative film curling
correcting apparatus relating to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an interior of a
cartridge and a negative film.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating main portions of the
negative film curling correcting apparatus relating to the present
embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a drive
force transmitting portion.
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a guiding structure for
transferring the negative film from a cylinder portion to a guide
portion.
FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an eject mechanism portion for
removing the cartridge from a loading groove.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the eject mechanism.
FIG. 9 is an operational view of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10A is a side view illustrating a sensor position when no
cartridge is detected.
FIG. 10B is a side view illustrating a sensor position when a
cartridge is detected.
FIG. 11 is a side view of a case in which an elongated roller is
used to remove dirt from drive rollers.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a case in which scrapers are used to
remove dirt from the drive rollers.
FIG. 13 is a side view of a case in which belts are used to remove
dirt from the drive rollers.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a variation in which an
angle of an inclined surface of a tongue portion of a guide portion
is made small.
FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating a variation in which opposing
surfaces of the guide portion and a guide path are inclined along a
transverse direction of the negative film.
FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating a variation of a pushing
releasing mechanism portion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a negative film curling correcting apparatus 10
of the present invention. The curling correcting apparatus 10 is
provided with a loading section 14 in which a plurality of
cartridges 12 can be accommodated at the time. In the present
embodiment, ten cartridges are loaded in the loading section
14.
The loading section 14 includes a cylinder portion 16, in which the
cartridges 12 are loaded, and a cylinder loading portion 18 in
which the cylinder portion 16 is loaded.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cartridge 12 includes a spool shaft
12A, which takes up a negative film 20 in the form of a roll, and a
case portion 12B, which covers the negative film 20 taken up onto
the spool shaft 12A. A negative film withdrawal opening 12C is
provided in the case portion 12B in a direction tangent thereto.
The negative film 20 is withdrawn from the negative film withdrawal
opening 12C.
A perforation 20A is provided for each image frame of the negative
film 20. The perforations 20A are used in positioning and the like
during printing. Further, a strip-like magnetic recording layer 20B
is provided at one transverse direction end portion of the negative
film 20 at a region other than the image recording surface.
Information at the time of photographing and the like is
magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording layer 20B.
In the present embodiment, the negative film 20 is accommodated
tightly in the cartridge 12. Namely, the outermost layer of the
negative film 20 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the case
portion 12B. As a result, when the spool shaft 12A is rotated in a
direction of withdrawing the negative film 20, the leading end
portion of the outermost layer of the negative film 20 is withdrawn
from the negative film withdrawal opening 12C.
A through-hole 22 is provided at the axial center of the cylinder
portion 16 so as to penetrate through both end surfaces thereof. A
supporting shaft 24 is provided, so as to be axially rotatable, in
the center of the cylinder loading portion 18, which corresponds to
the through-hole 22. The cylinder portion 16 is supported by the
supporting shaft 24.
When the supporting shaft 24 rotates, the cylinder portion 16
rotates in a state in which the cylinder portion 16 is accommodated
in the cylinder loading portion 18. Further, an unillustrated lock
lever is provided at an end portion of the supporting shaft 24.
Axial movement of the cylinder portion 16 is prevented by operation
of the lock lever when the cylinder portion 16 is accommodated in
the cylinder loading portion 18.
Ten cartridge loading grooves 26 are provided in one end surface of
the cylinder portion 16. The cartridge loading grooves 26 are
spaced evenly around the axis of the cylinder portion 16 at the
same position in the radial direction thereof.
A wall portion forming the inner periphery of the cartridge loading
groove 26 is formed in substantially the same configuration as the
shape of the outer periphery of the cartridge 12. A guide path 28,
through which the negative film 20 passes, is provided from one
portion of the wall portion in a direction tangent to the cartridge
loading groove 26. The guide path 28 extends to the outer
circumference of the cylinder portion 16 such that the negative
film 20, which is withdrawn from the cartridge 12 accommodated in
the cartridge loading groove 26, can be delivered to the outer
circumference of the cylinder portion 16.
A gear 30 illustrated in FIG. 4 is attached to the bottom portion
of the cartridge loading groove 26. A shaft portion 30A of the gear
30 and the spool shaft 12A of the cartridge 12 fit together. The
spool shaft 12A is rotated by the rotation of the gear 30 so that
the negative film 20 can be withdrawn from the cartridge 12.
As shown in FIG. 10A, a circular groove 110, whose diameter is
smaller than the outer peripheral dimension of the cartridge 12, is
formed in a bottom portion of the cartridge loading groove 26. A
through-hole 112 is provided at a bottom portion of the circular
groove 110. Peripheral portions of the through-hole 112 extend in
the direction of the cartridge loading groove 26 so as to from a
cylindrical portion 114 within the circular groove 110.
An intermediate portion of the shaft portion 30A is axially
supported inside the cylindrical portion 114 via a collar 116. In
this way, the shaft portion 30A is rotatable, as described above,
and is movable in the axial direction thereof.
A male screw is formed on the end portion of the shaft portion 30A
located at the cartridge loading groove 26 side, and is inserted
through washers 118, 120 respectively having a larger diameter than
that of the shaft portion 30A. A nut 122 screws with the male screw
so as to fix the washers 118, 120.
A compression coil spring 124 is attached to the shaft portion 30A
between the bottom portion of the circular groove 110 and the
washer 118. The shaft portion 30A is moved axially in the direction
of the cartridge loading groove 26 by the urging force of the
compression coil spring 124. The amount of movement of the shaft
portion 30A is limited by the abutting of the gear 30 against the
bottom portion of the circular groove 110.
When there is no cartridge 12 in the cartridge loading groove 26
(the state shown in FIG. 10A), the shaft portion 30A projects into
the interior of the cartridge loading groove 26. However, when the
cartridge 12 is in the cartridge loading groove 26, the shaft
portion 30A is moved toward the bottom portion of the circular
groove 110 against the urging force of the compression coil spring
124 due to the movement of the cartridge 12 in the loading
direction thereof (the state shown in FIG. 10B).
When the cartridge 12 is loaded into the cartridge loading groove
26, this loaded state is maintained by a cartridge pushing lever
126 (see FIG. 8) which will be described later.
A cartridge detecting portion 128 is disposed at the bottom portion
(at the left side in FIG. 10) of the cylinder portion 16. The
cartridge detecting portion 128 is formed by a bifurcated
photoelectric sensor 132, which is mounted to a bracket 130, and a
lever 134, which can be inserted in and withdrawn from the space
between the two furcations of the photoelectric sensor 132.
The lever 134 is attached to a cogwheel 136 so as to project from
the outer circumference of the cogwheel 136 in a direction tangent
thereto. The lever 134 is inserted in and withdrawn from the space
between the two furcations of the photoelectric sensor 132 by the
rotation of the cogwheel 136. The cogwheel 136 is urged, by urging
force from an unillustrated urging means, to rotate in a direction
in which the lever 134 is located between the furcations. The lever
134 is thereby usually positioned so that the photoelectric sensor
132 is turned off (i.e., is in a non-continuous state).
The cogwheel 136 meshes with a cogwheel 140 from which a shaft
portion detecting lever 138 projects in a tangential direction. The
shaft portion detecting lever 138 is positioned such that the end
portion thereof interferes with the shaft portion 30A when the
cylinder portion 16 rotates with the cartridges accommodated
therein. As a result, when the cylinder portion 16 rotates in the
state illustrated in FIG. 10A, the shaft portion 30A does not abut
the shaft portion detecting lever 138, and the position of the
lever 134 does not change. However, when the cylinder portion 16
rotates in the state illustrated in FIG. 10B, the shaft portion 30A
and the shaft portion detecting lever 138 abut so that the cogwheel
140 is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 10. Accordingly, the
cogwheel 136 is rotated counterclockwise so that the lever 134 is
withdrawn from its position between the furcations of the
photoelectric sensor 132 (i.e., so that the photoelectric sensor
132 is turned on).
It can be determined from the on/off state of the photoelectric
sensor 132 whether a cartridge 12 exists within the cartridge
loading groove 26 which passes above the cartridge detecting
portion 128.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cartridge pushing lever 126 is
provided for each cartridge loading groove 26. (The cartridge
pushing level 126 is omitted from FIGS. 1 and 3).
The cartridge pushing lever 126 is substantially V-shaped, and a
curved portion 126A thereof is axially supported to the cylinder
portion 16 via a shaft 142. The shaft 142, which is axially
supported to the cylinder portion 16, is rotated clockwise in FIG.
8 by the urging force of an unillustrated torsion coil spring.
One end portion of the cartridge pushing lever 126 can move above
and withdraw from a position above an opening of the cartridge
loading groove 26. Usually, the cartridge pushing lever 126 is
positioned above the opening due to the urging force of the torsion
coil spring. Therefore, by pushing the cartridge 12 accommodated in
the cartridge loading groove 26 from above, the cartridge 12 can be
maintained within the cartridge loading groove 26 against the
urging force of the compression coil spring 124.
The other end portion of the cartridge pushing lever 126 extends to
a vicinity of the outer circumference of the cylinder portion 16.
At the farthest end of this end portion, a projecting portion 144
is formed so as to project perpendicular to the surface of the page
in FIG. 8.
The projecting portion 144 corresponds to a pushing releasing
mechanism portion 146 illustrated in FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 7
through 9, the pushing releasing mechanism portion 146 is mounted
via a bracket 148 to an unillustrated lid which is disposed above
the cylinder portion 16.
The pushing releasing mechanism portion 146 is formed by a
substantially L-shaped releasing lever 150 and a substantially
Y-shaped restricting lever 152. Respective bent portions of the
releasing lever 150 and the restricting lever 152 are axially
supported on the same axis by a shaft 154.
A notch portion 156 is provided in a transverse direction central
portion of one end portion of the releasing lever 150. A hook 158,
which corresponds to the projecting portion 144 of the cartridge
pushing lever 126, is accommodated in the notch portion 156. The
hook 158 is axially supported to the one end portion of the
releasing lever 150 by a shaft 160.
A circular hole 162 is formed in another end portion of the
releasing lever 150. One end portion of a first helical tension
spring 164 engages with a vertical wall portion 148A of the bracket
148. Accordingly, the releasing lever 150 is rotated clockwise in
FIG. 7 around the shaft 154.
A stopper shaft 166 is attached to a first fin 152A of the
restricting lever 152. The first fin 152A extends along the end
portion of the releasing lever 150 to which the hook 158 is
attached. The stopper shaft 166 restricts the amount by which the
releasing lever 150 is rotated by the urging force of the first
helical tension spring 164.
A second fin 152B extends in a direction opposite to the first fin
152A with respect to the shaft 154. The position of the stopper
shaft 166 is restricted by the abutting of the second fin 152B with
a stopper plate 148B, which is formed from a bent portion of the
bracket 148. Further, a third fin 152C extends diametrically
opposite with respect to the end portion of the releasing lever 150
to which the first helical tension spring 164 is attached. An end
portion of a second helical tension spring 168 engages with the end
of the third fin 152C. The urging force of the second helical
tension spring 168 is set greater than that of the first helical
tension spring 164.
As a result, movement of the releasing lever 150, which abuts the
stopper shaft 166 due to the urging force of the first helical
tension spring 164, is restricted by the urging force of the second
helical tension spring 168. Rotation of the releasing lever 150 in
the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 is thereby restricted.
By disposing the pushing releasing mechanism portion 146 having the
above-described structure such that a cover thereof is above the
cylinder portion 16, the hook 158 is disposed on the locus of
movement of the protruding portion 144 of the cartridge pushing
lever 126 (due to the rotation of the cylinder portion 16).
As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when the protruding portion
144 and the hook 158 do not abut each other, the cartridge pusher
lever 126 is above the opening of the cartridge loading groove 26.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the cylinder portion 16 is rotated
clockwise such that the protruding portion 144 and the hook 158
contact each other, the cartridge pusher lever 126 is rotated
counterclockwise in FIG. 9 around the shaft 142, and the pushed
state of the cartridge 12 by the cartridge pushing lever 126 can be
released.
When the releasing lever 150 interfere cartridge 12 which is
protruding from the cartridge loading groove 26, the releasing
lever 150 rotates clockwise around the shaft 142 against the urging
force of the second helical tension spring 168 so that the
cartridge 12 is not damaged. Further, when the cylinder portion 16
is rotated in the opposite direction, the releasing lever 150
rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 142 against the urging
force of the first helical tension spring 164 so that the pushed
state of the cartridge 12 by the cartridge pushing lever 126 is
maintained.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a sprocket 32 is attached coaxially to a
base portion of the supporting shaft 24. An endless belt 34 is
trained around the sprocket 32 and is also trained around a
sprocket 38 attached to a driving shaft 36A of a motor 36 provided
adjacent to the cylinder loading portion 18. The supporting shaft
24 is rotated by the driving force of the motor 36 so that the
cylinder portion 16 can be rotated.
The motor 36 is controlled to step rotate the cylinder portion 16
36.degree. at a time. Namely, the cylinder portion 16 is rotated by
angles equal to the number of degrees of one rotation of the
cylinder portion 16 (360.degree.) divided by the number of
cartridges which can be accommodated. Accordingly, the positions of
the cartridges 12 when the rotation of the cylinder portion 16 is
stopped are the same.
A guide portion 40, which forms a conveying path of the negative
film, is provided to as to correspond to a portion of the cartridge
12 at the same position. The negative film conveying path formed by
the guide portion 40 corresponds with the guide path 28 formed in
the cylinder portion 16. As a result, the negative film 20 is
withdrawn from the cartridge 12, is guided along the guide path 28,
reaches the outer circumference of the cylinder portion 16, and is
delivered to the conveying path formed by the guide portion 40.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, approximately 2/3 of the upper portion of
the end portion of the guide path 28 on the cylinder portion 16
side protrudes in the direction of the guide portion 40 such that
the guide path 28 is stepped. (Hereinafter, the protruding portion
of the guide path 28 will be referred to as the tongue portion 28A,
and the lower portion which does not protrude will be referred to
as the base portion 28B).
The end portion of the negative film 20, which has been withdrawn
from the cartridge accommodated in the cartridge loading groove 26,
is formed as a so-called diagonal-cut leader portion 20C. The
leader portion 20C corresponds to the base portion 28B of the guide
path 28.
A portion of the guide portion 40 which opposes the guide path 28
(i.e., approximately the lower 1/3 in FIG. 5) protrudes so as to
oppose the base portion 28B. The guide portion 40 is therefore
stepped in the same way as the guide path 28. (Hereinafter, the
protruding portion will be referred to as the tongue portion 40A,
and the upper portion which does not protrude will be referred to
as the base portion 40B).
The tongue portions 28A, 40A are formed respectively at such that
the convex and concave portions of the guide path 28 and the guide
portion 40 correspond to each other.
The tongue portion 40A and the base portion 40B of the guide
portion 40 are slanted downward as shown in FIG. 6. A step is
thereby formed between the base portion 28B of the guide path 28
and the tongue portion 40A of the guide portion 40.
The negative film 20 which has just been withdrawn from the
cartridge 12 is tightly curled. When the negative film 20 passes
over the base portion 28B, the negative film 20 is displaced in the
direction of thickness (downward in FIG. 6) with respect to an
ordinary conveying path.
The tongue portion 28A of the guide path 28 contacts an oblique
side 20D of the leader portion 20C and functions to restrict the
displacement in the direction of thickness. The tongue portion 40A
of the guide portion 40 receives the leader portion 20C which first
passes through the guide path 28 and functions to raise the leader
portion 20C as the leader portion 20C slides along the slanted
surface of the tongue portion 40A even if the leader portion 20C is
tightly curled.
Namely, the negative film 20 is transferred smoothly from the guide
path 28 to the guide portion 40 due to the two tongue portions 28A,
40A.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the gear 30 of the cartridge loading
groove 26, which is positioned at a position corresponding to the
guide portion 40, meshes with a gear 42. The gear 42 is connected
to a drive transmitting portion 44.
The gear 42 and the gear 30 mesh due to the rotation of the
cylinder portion 16. When axial rotation of both the gear 42 and
the gear 30 is stopped, when the gears 42, 30 are meshed, there is
the fear that a shock may be imparted to the rotation of the
cylinder portion 16 and that a loss of synchronism may be generated
in the motor 36. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the
cylinder portion 16 rotates, the gear 42 is rotated in the negative
film take-up direction by driving force from the drive transmitting
portion 44. Accordingly, the meshing of the gear 42 with the gear
30 is effected smoothly, and loss of synchronism in the motor 36 is
prevented.
The drive transmitting portion 44 is formed of three sprockets 46,
48, 50 and an endless belt 52 which is trained in a loop around the
sprockets 46, 48, 50.
The gear 42 is fixed coaxially to the sprocket 46. Therefore, when
the driving belt 52 is driven, the spool shaft 12A is rotated, and
the negative film 20 can be withdrawn or taken up.
The drive transmitting portion 44 is driven by the driving force of
a motor 54. A gear 56 is attached to a driving shaft 54A of the
motor 54 and meshes with a gear 58A of a clutch portion 58. A
substantially V-shaped lever 60 is swingably attached to the gear
58A of the clutch portion 58. Shafts 59 are respectively attached
to end portions of the lever 60. Two gears 60A, 61A are attached to
one of the shafts 59 in the axial direction thereof, whereas two
gears 60B, 61B are attached to the other shaft 59 in the axial
direction thereof. A friction member 92 is disposed between the
gears 60A and 61A and between the gears 60B and 61B, respectively.
The gears 60A, 60B mesh with the gear 58A of the clutch portion 58.
The friction members 92 function to lower the rotational torque of
the spool shaft 12 and that of a drum 78 with respect to the
rotational torque of a heat roller 62 which will be described
later. When a predetermined tension is applied to the negative film
20, the friction members 92 rotate gears 60A, 60B and the gears
61A, 61B relatively.
The gear 61A at one end portion of the lever 60 meshes selectively
with gears 48A, 50A which are coaxially attached to the sprockets
48, 50, respectively.
The training paths of the belt 52 around the respective sprockets
48, 50 differ. When the motor 54 is rotated at the same speed, the
speed at which the belt 52 is conveyed when the gear 61A and the
gear 48A mesh is slower than the speed at which the belt 52 is
conveyed when the gear 61A and the gear 50A mesh.
When the motor 54 is driven forward (rotation when the negative
film 20 is withdrawn from the cartridge 12, i.e., clockwise
rotation in FIG. 1), the lever 60 is swung counterclockwise so that
the gear 61A meshes with the gear 48A (the state illustrated by the
solid line in FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the motor 54 is
driven backward (rotation when the negative film 20 is taken up
into the cartridge 12, i.e., counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 1),
the lever 60 is swung clockwise so that the gear 61A meshes with
the gear 50A (the state illustrated by the imaginary line in FIG.
4).
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat roller 62 is disposed at the
downstream side of the conveying path of the negative film formed
by the guide portion 40. The heat roller 62 is divided in the axial
direction thereof into two portions at which pairs of flanges 62B,
62C are respectively formed. The negative film 20 which passes
along the negative film conveying path is delivered so as to
contact the outer periphery of the heat roller 62 between the
flanges 62B at the upper side in FIG. 4.
A heat source 62A, formed by a halogen lamp or the like, is
disposed at an axially central portion of the heat roller 62. The
surface of the heat roller 62 is heated by heat from the heat
source 62A.
Respective portions of the outer circumferences of the two portions
of the heat roller 62 respectively contact drive rollers 64, 65. A
sprocket 93 is attached to one end (the lower end in FIG. 4) of the
axis of rotation of the drive rollers 64, 65. An endless belt 66 is
trained around the sprocket 93. The belt 66 is also trained around
a sprocket 58B which is coaxially attached to the gear 58A of the
clutch portion 58. The heat roller 62 is thereby driven by driving
force from the motor 54.
The rotational speed of the heat roller 62 is constant so that the
negative film 20 can be conveyed at a constant speed. Further, a
linear velocity V of the heat roller 62 is faster than a velocity
V.sub.1 which is the velocity of the shaft 30A rotated via the gear
48A and which is the velocity at which the negative film 20 is
conveyed from the spool shaft 12A (V>V.sub.1). This difference
in velocity is absorbed by the relative rotation of the gears 60A
and 61A due to the friction members 92 so that the negative film 20
is conveyed while the predetermined tension thereof is
maintained.
The circumferential surfaces of the drive rollers 64, 65 have
relatively weak adhesion. Dirt adhering to the circumferential
surface of the heat roller 62 can be removed due to the
adhesion.
Respective portions of the circumferential surfaces of the drive
rollers 64, 65 contact dirt removing rollers 94, 96, respectively.
The circumferential surfaces of the dirt removing rollers 94, 96
have relatively high adhesion so as to remove dirt adhering to the
drive rollers 64, 65 from the circumferential surface of the heat
roller 62.
Namely, the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 indirectly remove dirt
adhering to the circumferential surface of the heat roller 62. As
viewed from above, the outer configuration of the drive rollers 64,
65 interferes with the flanges 62B, 62C of the heat roller 62, and
the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 are set apart from the flanges
62B, 62C. In other words, when the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 are
easily removed by being moved axially along a shaft 98 without
removing other parts from the apparatus.
A temperature sensor 68 is provided in a vicinity of the drive
roller 64 and detects the surface temperature of the heat roller
62. A control device 70 effects feedback control of the heat source
62A on the basis of a detected signal from the temperature sensor
68 which detects the surface temperature of the heat roller 62. The
temperature of the heat roller 62 is thereby maintained at a
temperature greater than or equal to the glass transition point
(e.g., 70.degree.-80.degree. C.).
Endless belts 72 are trained around half of the outer circumference
of the heat roller 62. The belts 72 are disposed in a loop shape by
a plurality of rollers 74 and are driven in accordance with the
rotation of the heat roller 62.
When the negative film 20 reaches the outer circumference of the
heat roller 62, the negative film 20 is interposed between the heat
roller 62 and the belt 72. The negative film 20 is trained around
half of the circumference of the heat roller 62 so as to be
conveyed in a substantially U-shaped configuration.
Further, the belt 72 prevents volatility of the moisture from the
emulsion layer. If the belt 72 is smaller than the width of the
film, the portions of the film which are not covered by the belt 72
contract due to evaporation, and the film deforms into a
trough-like configuration. Accordingly, it is preferable that the
width of the belt is slightly wider than the width of the film.
The negative film 20 is heated by being trained around the heat
roller 62. Because the surface temperature of the heat roller 62
exceeds the glass transition point, curling of the negative film
20, which is caused by the negative film 20 being wound around the
spool shaft 12A, is eliminated.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the belts 72 are provided as a pair. The
negative film 20 is interposed between one of the belts 72 and the
heat roller 62. The other belt 72 functions to reliably receive the
rotating force of the heat roller 62. Accordingly, even when the
negative film is interposed between the belt 72 and the heat roller
62, the belts 72 rotate as the heat roller 62 rotates.
The flanges 62B are formed on the heat roller and guide the
transverse direction of the negative film 20.
A take-up section 76 is provided at a downstream side in the
conveying direction of the negative film 20, which is trained
around the heat roller 62 so that the conveying direction thereof
is changed in a substantially U-shape. The rotatable drum 78 is
disposed in the take-up section 76. The negative film 20 delivered
from the heat roller 62 is taken up in the form of a roll on the
outer circumference of the drum 78. A sprocket 78A is fixed
coaxially to the drum 78. An endless belt 80 is trained around the
sprocket 78A. The belt 80 is also trained around a pair of
sprockets 82, 84. The gear 60B, which is provided at the end
portion of the lever 60 of the clutch portion 58, is disposed
between the pair of sprockets 82, 84. Gears 82A, 84A are attached
coaxially to the sprockets 82, 84, respectively. The gear 61B
selectively meshes with either of the gears 82A, 84A due to the
swinging of the lever 60.
As a result, the drum 78 is rotated in directions of taking up and
withdrawing of the negative film 20 in accordance with the forward
rotation and the reverse rotation of the motor 54.
When the motor 54 is driven forward, a speed V.sub.2 at which the
negative film 20 is taken up by the drum 78, which is rotated via
the gear 82, becomes faster than the linear velocity V of the heat
roller 62 (V<V.sub.2). The difference in the speeds is absorbed
by the relative rotation between the gears 60B and 61B due to the
friction members 92 so that the negative film 20 is conveyed with
the predetermined tension thereof maintained. On the other hand,
when the motor 54 is rotated backward, the linear velocity V of the
heat roller 62 becomes faster than the speed V.sub.2 at which the
negative film 20 is taken up by the drum 78 rotated via the gear
82A (V>V.sub.2). This difference in speed is also absorbed by
the relative rotation between the gears 60B and 61B due to the
friction members 92 so that the negative film 20 is conveyed while
the predetermined tension thereof is maintained.
Namely, when the negative film 20 is withdrawn (i.e., when the
gears 61A and 48A mesh and the gears 61B and 82B mesh), the
relation between the linear velocity V.sub.1 of the spool shaft
12A, the linear velocity V of the heat roller 62 and the linear
velocity V.sub.2 of the drum 78 is V.sub.1 <V<V.sub.2. When
the negative film 20 is taken up (i.e., when the gears 61A and 50A
mesh and the gears 61B and 84A mesh due to the swinging of the
lever 60), the relation between the linear velocity V.sub.1 of the
spool shaft 12A, the linear velocity V of the heat roller 62 and
the linear velocity V.sub.2 of the drum 78 is V.sub.1
>V>V.sub.2.
Accordingly, the negative film 20 is conveyed without slack, and is
conveyed with the predetermined tension thereof maintained by the
relative rotation between the gears 60A and 61A and the relative
rotation between the gears 60B and 61B due to the friction members
92.
A sensor 86 is disposed along the conveying path of the negative
film 20 between the heat roller 62 and the take-up portion 76. A
light-emitting portion 86A and a light-receiving portion 86B of the
sensor 86 are disposed such that the conveying path is interposed
therebetween. The sensor 86 detects the perforations 20A provided
on the negative film 20. The number of detected perforations 20A is
counted by the control device 70. If respective lengths of a
plurality of negative films 20 are equal, the respective numbers of
perforations 20A formed on each negative film 20 are also equal.
Therefore, the counted value when the negative film 20 is
completely withdrawn from the cartridge 12 is stored in advance,
and the value is compared with the number counted by the sensor 86.
In this way, it can be determined if the negative film 20 is
completely withdrawn.
The rotating direction of the motor 54 is changed from forward
rotation to reverse rotation due to the detection that the negative
film 20 has been completely withdrawn. Due to the reverse rotation
of the motor 54, the drum 78 is rotated in the clockwise direction,
and the heat roller 62 is rotated in the counterclockwise
direction. In this case, the negative film 20 is withdrawn from the
take-up section 78 and passes along the same conveying path as that
when the negative film 20 is withdrawn from the cartridge 12. The
negative film 20 is thereby returned to the cartridge 12.
A magnetic head 88 is disposed along the conveying path between the
heat roller 62 and the take-up section 76 so as to be closer to the
heat roller 62 than the sensor 86. The magnetic head 88 can read
information recorded on the magnetic recording layer 20B of the
negative film 20 and/or record information onto the magnetic
recording layer 20B.
Cool air from a scirocco fan 90 is blown to the conveying path
between the heat roller 62 and the negative film loading section 14
(i.e., at the position where the guide portion 40 is located). The
scirocco fan 90 is controlled so as to be driven only when the
negative film 20 is being conveyed back to the cartridge 12. The
negative film 20 heated by the heat roller 62 is returned to the
cartridge 12 while being cooled by the cool air. Due to this
cooling, the negative film 20 is cooled to a temperature less than
or equal to the glass transition temperature of the negative film
20 (the supporting body). If the negative film 20 is not cooled to
a temperature less than or equal to the glass transition
temperature, the negative film 20 is curled again when accommodated
in the cartridge 12.
Accordingly, the negative film 20 is accommodated within the
cartridge 12 in a state in which the curling generated by the
negative film 20 being trained around the heat roller 62 is
maintained.
The direction in which the negative film 20 is trained onto the
heat roller 62 and the direction in which the negative film 20 is
taken up onto the spool shaft 12A of the cartridge 12 are
reciprocal directions. Therefore, the curling of the negative film
20, which is taken up again by the spool shaft 12A, is offset by
the taking up of the negative film 12 onto the spool shaft 12A.
When the processes of completely withdrawing the negative film 20
from the cartridge 12 and re-taking up the negative film 20 as
described above are completed, the motor 36 is driven. The cylinder
portion 16 thereby rotates 36.degree., and the same operations are
repeated for the next cartridge 12. In this way, the curling of the
negative films 20 of the ten cartridges 12 due to the spool shafts
12A is corrected. The cylinder portion 16 is removed, and the
cartridges 12 are taken out therefrom and are sent to subsequent
processes (e.g., developing processing, printing processing).
Operation of the present embodiment will be described
hereinafter.
The cartridges 12 are loaded into each of the cartridge loading
grooves 26 of the cylinder portion 16 which has been removed from
the cylinder loading portion 18. At this time, the cartridge
pushing lever 126 is withdrawn from its position above the opening
of the cartridge loading groove 26. The shaft portion 30A is
retracted against the urging force of the compression coil spring
124 so that the cartridge 12 is completely accommodated within the
cartridge loading groove 26. Accordingly, by releasing the
cartridge pushing lever 126 from its withdrawn state, the cartridge
pushing lever 126 moves to a position above the cartridge loading
groove 26 so that the loaded state of the cartridge 12 is
maintained.
When the loading of the cartridges 12 into the cylinder portion 16
has been completed, the cylinder portion 16 is set in the cylinder
loading portion 18. The lock lever attached to the end of the
supporting shaft 24 is operated so that axial movement of the
cylinder portion 16 is prevented. The loading of the cylinder
portion 16 is thereby completed.
When the cylinder portion 16 is rotated, the cartridge loading
grooves 26 successively reach the cartridge detecting portion 128.
In the state illustrated in FIG. 10A, i.e., the state in which the
cartridge 12 is not accommodated, even if the cylinder portion 16
rotates, the shaft portion detecting lever 138 does not contact the
shaft portion 30A, and the position of the lever 134 does not
change. Accordingly, the photoelectric sensor 132 remains on, and
it is detected that there is no cartridge 12.
In the state shown in FIG. 10B, i.e., the state in which the
cartridges 12 are accommodated, when the cylinder portion 16 is
rotated, the shaft portion 30A contacts the shaft portion detecting
lever 138, and the cogwheel 140 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 10. In
accordance with the clockwise rotation of the cogwheel 140, the
cogwheel 136 is rotated counterclockwise so that the lever 134 is
withdrawn from its position between the two furcations of the
photoelectric sensor 132 (the photoelectric sensor is off).
Accordingly, it is detected that there is a cartridge 12.
When it is detected that there is no cartridge in the cartridge
loading groove 26, operations of withdrawing and taking up the
negative film 20 to effect curl correction therefor are canceled,
and the next cartridge loading groove 26 is positioned at the
predetermined position.
When a cartridge loading groove 26 in which a cartridge 12 has been
detected is positioned at the predetermined position, the gear 30
and the gear 42 mesh.
At this time, because the gear 42 is rotated in the direction of
taking up the negative film 20, the gear 42 can mesh smoothly with
the gear 30 which approaches due to the rotation of the cylinder
portion 16. Accordingly, loss of synchronism of the motor 36 of the
cylinder portion 16 due to shock generated by the meshing of the
gear 30 and the gear 42 can be prevented. Further, the cylinder
portion 16 can be precisely rotated by predetermined angles
(36.degree.). It is preferable that the rotation of the gear 42 is
slightly faster than the moving speed of the gear 30 which
corresponds to the rotation of the cylinder portion 16.
In this state, when the motor 54 is driven forward, the lever 60 of
the clutch portion 58 is swung counterclockwise, and the gear 61A
and the gear 48A mesh. Accordingly, the driving force of the motor
54 is transmitted to the gears 42, 30 via the sprockets 46, 48, 50
and the belt 52 so that the spool shaft 12A is rotated at a low
speed (linear velocity V.sub.1) in the direction of withdrawing the
negative film.
The negative film 20 is withdrawn from the cartridge 12, is guided
to the guide portion 40, and contacts the outer circumference of
the heat roller 62. At this time, the scirocco fan 90 is not
operated.
When the negative film 20 is transferred from the guide path 28 to
the guide portion 40, the negative film 20 is tightly curled, and a
force works to displace the negative film 20 in the direction of
entering the gap between the guide path 28 and the guide portion 40
(i.e., in the direction of thickness).
However, in the present embodiment, because the tongue portion 28A
is formed at the guide path 28, the oblique side 20D of the leader
portion 20C slidingly contacts the tongue portion 28A. Because the
above-mentioned displacement is restricted, the amount of
displacement is decreased.
The end of the leader portion 20C, for which the amount of
displacement has been decreased, passes over the base portion 28B
of the guide path 28 with a slight displacement. Thereafter, the
end of the leader portion 20C moves at a downward slant, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. However, the tongue portion 40A of the guide
portion 40 extends on the locus of movement of the leader portion
20C and is formed as an inclined surface. Therefore, the end of the
leader portion 20C abuts the tongue portion 40A and slides upwardly
along the inclined surface. The negative film 20 is prevented from
falling off of the guide path 28 and the guide portion 40, and can
be smoothly transferred from the guide path 28 to the guide portion
40.
Driving force is transmitted to the heat roller 62 from the forward
rotation of the motor 54 via the belt 66. The heat roller 62 is
rotated clockwise as seen in FIG. 1 (at linear velocity V).
The negative film 20 which reaches the outer circumference of the
heat roller 62 is guided between the outer circumference of the
heat roller 62 and the belt 72 so as to be interposed therebetween.
The negative film 20 is trained around half of the circumference of
the heat roller 62 while contacting the outer circumference
thereof.
Because the flanges 62B are provided on the heat roller 62, the
negative film 20 is trained linearly around the heat roller 62
without being skewed thereon.
The belts 72 are provided as a pair, and each is independently
trained around the heat roller 62. Therefore, even if the negative
film 20 is interposed between the heat roller 62 and one of the
belts 72, contact of the other belt 72 with the heat roller 62 is
maintained. Accordingly, the belt 72 can reliably receive the
driving force of the heat roller 62 so as to be driven thereby.
The relation between the linear velocity V.sub.1 of the negative
film 20 withdrawn from the spool shaft 12A and the linear velocity
V of the negative film 20 trained around the heat roller 62 is
V.sub.1 <V. Slack is not generated, and much tension is applied
to the negative film 20. However, in the present embodiment,
because the friction member 92 is interposed between the gear 60A
and the gear 61A, the difference in velocities is absorbed by the
friction member 92, and the negative film 20 is conveyed while the
predetermined tension thereof is maintained.
The surface temperature of the heat roller 62 is detected by the
temperature sensor 68 and is maintained at a temperature greater
than or equal to the glass transition point (70.degree.-80.degree.
C.) by feedback correction (i.e., the heat source 62A is turned on
and off). Because the surface temperature exceeds the glass
transition point, curling of the negative film 20 caused by the
spool shaft 12A is eliminated by the training of the negative film
20 around the heat roller 62.
The perforations 20A of the negative film 20, which is conveyed by
the heat roller 62 in a substantially U-shape and is delivered, are
detected by the sensor 86. A detection signal from the sensor 86 is
supplied to the control device 70 in which the number of detected
perforations 20A are counted.
The magnetic head 88 is provided in a vicinity of the sensor 86.
Therefore, as the negative film 20 is being conveyed, information
recorded on the magnetic recording layer 20B of the negative film
20 can be read or new information can be recorded.
The negative film 20, whose perforations 20A are counted while the
negative film 20 is being conveyed, is taken up once onto the drum
78 of the take-up portion 76, and is temporarily stored. Because
the gear 61B and the gear 82A are meshed, the drum 78 is rotated at
a linear velocity V.sub.2 which is faster than the linear velocity
V of the heat roller 62 via the gears 60B, 61B at the ends of the
lever 60 due to the driving force of the motor 54 (V<V.sub.2).
Accordingly, the negative film 20 is conveyed without slack, and
much tension is applied thereto. However, in the present
embodiment, because the friction member 92 is disposed between the
gear 60B and the gear 61B, the difference in velocities is absorbed
by the friction member 92. The negative film 20 is thereby conveyed
while the predetermined tension thereof is maintained, and is wound
around the drum 78.
When a determination is made by the control device 70 that the
counted number of perforations 20A has reached the value determined
in advance, it is understood that the negative film 20 has been
completely withdrawn from the cartridge 12, and the rotating
direction of the motor 54 is reversed from forward rotation to
reverse rotation. By the reverse rotation of the motor 54, the drum
78 is rotated clockwise, the heat roller 62 is rotated
counterclockwise, and the spool shaft 12A is rotated in the
direction of taking up the negative film 20. Further, the lever 60
is swung so that the gears 61A and 50A mesh and the gears 61B and
84A mesh. Accordingly, the linear velocity V.sub.2 of the drum 78
becomes a low speed (V>V.sub.2), and the linear velocity V.sub.1
of the spool shaft 12A becomes a high speed (V<V.sub.1).
Further, the negative film 20 may be conveyed more quickly when the
negative film 20 is unwound from the drum 78 as compared to when
the negative film 20 is wound thereon.
The negative film 20 is unwound from the drum 78 of the take-up
portion 76 while the predetermined tension thereof is maintained.
The negative film 20 is again guided to the outer circumference of
the heat roller 62, and is trained around half of the circumference
of the heat roller 62 while interposed between the heat roller 62
and the belt 72. The negative film 20 is conveyed through the guide
portion 40 and is taken up onto the spool shaft 12A of the
cartridge 12 at a predetermined tension.
When the negative film 20 is rewound, the scirocco fan 90 is
driven, and cool air is blown on the negative film 20 passing
through the guide portion 40. As a result, the negative film 20 is
taken up onto the spool shaft 12A within the cartridge 12 while
retaining the curl generated by the negative film 20 being trained
around the heat roller 62. However, because the curl generated by
the spool shaft 12A and the curl generated by the heat roller 62
are in reciprocal directions, the curling of the negative film 20
is offset by the negative film 20 being taken up by the spool shaft
12A.
When the withdrawing and re-taking up of the negative film 20 into
the cartridge 12 are completed, the motor 36 is driven, and the
cylinder portion 16 rotates 36.degree.. Accordingly, the next
cartridge 12 corresponds to the guide portion 40, and the same
process are repeated for the subsequent 9 cartridges.
Due to the rotation of the cylinder portion 16, the cartridge
loading groove 26, in which a cartridge 12 which has undergone
curling correction processing is accommodated, reaches the position
at which the pushing releasing mechanism portion 146 is
disposed.
As the cylinder portion 16 rotates from the state illustrated in
FIG. 8, the protruding portion 144 and the hook 158 gradually
approach each other. When the protruding portion 144 and the hook
158 contact, the cartridge pusher lever 126 rotates
counterclockwise in FIG. 9 around the shaft 142 so that the pushed
state of the cartridge 12 can be released.
When the pushed state of the cartridge 12 by the cartridge pusher
lever 126 is released, the cartridge 12 is protruded by the urging
force of the compression coil spring 124 attached to the shaft
portion 30A. Therefore, the cartridges which have not yet been
processed and those which have can be readily distinguished.
The cartridges 12 which have been protruded from the cartridge
loading grooves 26 also contact the hook 158 due to the rotation of
the cylinder portion 16. However, when the hook 158 is contacted by
the cartridge 12 which has been protruded from the cartridge
loading groove 26, the releasing lever 150 rotates clockwise around
the shaft 142 against the urging force of the second helical
tension spring 168. Damage to the cartridge 12 or the hook 158 can
thereby be avoided.
Further, curling correction processing is effected in regular
loading order. However, when there is a cartridge for which rush
processing is desired, the cylinder portion 16 is rotated
reversely. Then, the cartridge 12 which necessitates urgent
processing is loaded into the cartridge loading groove 26
positioned at the predetermined position. In this way, rapid
processing can be effected. The hook 158 and the protruding portion
144 may contact each other during this reverse rotation as well.
However, when the cylinder portion 16 is rotated reversely, the
releasing lever 150 is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft
142 against the urging force of the first helical tension spring
164 so that the pushed state of the cartridge 12 by the cartridge
pushing lever 126 is maintained. Accordingly, the unprocessed
cartridge is not protruded from the cartridge loading groove
26.
When the withdrawing and rewinding of the ten negative films 20 has
been completed, the cylinder portion 16 is removed from the
cylinder loading portion 18, and the cartridges 12 are taken out
therefrom. The removed cartridges 12 are transported in a short
time to a subsequent process (for example, developing processing or
printing processing). When the negative film 20 is removed in order
to undergo the various processes, it can be processed in a state in
which it does not retain any curl from the spool shaft 12A. In
particular, because there is no great curl at the trailing end
portion, there are no drawbacks such as uneven developing
processing or the like. Further, because there is no great curl at
the leading end portion as well, the negative film 20 can be
conveyed stably.
The dirt which the negative film 12 carries and the dust within the
apparatus often stick to the heat roller 62 and may damage the
negative film 12 or result in the inability to effect stable
heating processing. Because the drive rollers 64, 65 have
relatively low adhesion, the dirt and dust can be removed thereby.
Further, the circumferential surfaces of the drive rollers 64, 65
contact the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 which have relatively high
adhesion. The dirt removed from the circumferential surface of the
heat roller 62 by the drive rollers 64, 65 adheres to the dirt
removing rollers 94, 96. Accordingly, dirt and dust is removed from
the drive rollers 64, 65 so that the adhesion thereof can always be
maintained.
The dirt removing rollers 94, 96 must be changed when a
predetermined amount of dirt and the like has adhered thereto. As
viewed from above, the outer configuration of the dirt removing
rollers 94, 96 is distanced from the flanges 62B, 62C of the heat
roller 62. Therefore, even if the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 are
moved axially along the shaft 98, the dirt removing rollers 94, 96
can be easily removed without any interfering members.
In the present embodiment, the apparatus for correcting the curling
of the negative film 20 is provided separately from the developing
apparatus and the printing apparatus. Therefore, the negative film
20 can undergo curl correction after having been photographed and
before being developed. The negative film 20 can also undergo curl
correction before being reprinted.
Further, ten cartridges 12 are loaded at one time, and operations
are effected automatically until curling correction for all of the
loaded cartridges 12 is completed. Therefore, even if this new work
process is added, there is no great loss in work efficiency. On the
contrary, the efficiency improves compares to negative films which
are subject to developing processing or printing processing while
curled.
Moreover, the linear velocity of the negative film 20 is fast at
the upstream side so that slack is eliminated, and the
predetermined tension is maintained by the absorption by the
friction members 92. Therefore, the negative film 20 is conveyed in
accordance with the linear velocity of the heat roller 62 which has
high torque. The heating of the negative film 20 by the heat roller
62 is therefore constant from the leading end to the trailing end
of the negative film 20.
Because the negative film 20 is heated uniformly, the slight damage
(change in density and the like) caused by heating is imparted
uniformly to the entire negative film 20. Therefore, there is no
problem in actuality.
Further, with respect to the removal of dirt from the
circumferential surface of the heat roller 62, the drive rollers
64, 65, which directly contact the heat roller 62, have low
adhesion and contact the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 which have
high adhesion. Therefore, when the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 are
to be changed, they can be easily removed as nothing interferes
with locus of movement in the axial direction thereof.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, ten cartridges 12 are loaded
into the cylinder portion 16 at one time and are processed
automatically. However, the cartridges 12 may be directly placed
one at a time in a vicinity of the guide portion 40.
In the present embodiment, the dirt removing rollers 94, 96 are
disposed so as to correspond respectively to the drive rollers 64,
65 in order to remove dirt and the like therefrom. However, as
illustrated in FIG. 11, the drive rollers 64, 65 may contact one
elongated roller 100 whose position of contacting the drive rollers
64, 65 may be changed by periodically moving the elongated roller
100 in the axial direction thereof. In this way, the roller 100 can
be changed less frequently.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, scrapers 102 may be provided. The
scrapers 102 contact the drive rollers 64. 65 so as to scrape off
dirt and the like adhering thereto. Further, as shown in FIG. 13,
belts 104 which have high adhesion may be driven in accordance with
the rotation of the drive rollers 64, 65.
In the present embodiment, the tongue portion 28A and the tongue
portion 40A are provided at the guide path 28 and the guide portion
40, respectively. The curling of the leader portion 20C of the
negative film 20 is reduced by the tongue portion 28A of the guide
path 28, and the leader portion 20C is guided smoothly by the
tongue portion 40A of the guide portion 40. However, as illustrated
in FIG. 14, the tongue portion 40A of the guide portion 40 may be
inclined in the same direction as the base portion 40B at an angle
smaller than the angle of the inclined surface of the base portion
40B.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the opposing surfaces of the
guide path 28 and the guide portion 40 may each be formed as a
surface inclined at an angle .theta. which corresponds to the angle
.theta. of the oblique side 20D of the leader portion 20C of the
negative film 20. Here, if the edge of the guide portion 40 is set
lower, in the direction of curling, than the edge of the guide path
28 (i.e., towards the rear of the page in FIG. 15), the negative
film 20 is transferred even more smoothly.
In the present embodiment, the pushing releasing mechanism portion
146, which releases the cartridge 12 from the state of being
accommodated and held within the cartridge loading groove 26, is
disposed above the cylinder portion 16. However, as illustrated in
FIG. 16, a releasing lever 170 may be disposed in the radial
direction of the cylinder portion 16.
Further, in the present embodiment, the surface temperature of the
heat roller 62 is maintained constant (70.degree.-80.degree. C.).
However, because the curling of the negative film 20 is
particularly strong at the trailing end portion thereof, if the
surface temperature is set low and is controlled to be the highest
when the trailing end portion is trained around the heat roller 62,
even more uniform curling correction can be effected.
It is possible for the negative film 20 to be conveyed slowly while
being withdrawn from the cartridge 12 and quickly while being taken
up into the cartridge 12. In addition, the speed of the negative
film 12 can be controlled such that the negative film 12 is
conveyed quickly when first withdrawn and the conveying velocity
thereof gradually decreases thereafter. In this way, even if the
surface temperature of the heat roller 62 is constant, more heat
can be applied to the trailing end portion of the negative film 20,
and heat can be applied in accordance with the strength of the
curl.
In the present embodiment, the negative films 20 after developing
processing are completely withdrawn from the cartridges 12.
However, it suffices that only the leading end portions of negative
films 20 after developing processing are trained around the heat
roller 62, undergo curling correction, and are immediately rewound
into the cartridge. Accordingly, when the negative film 20 is sent
to a negative carrier during printing processing, the negative film
20 can be stably conveyed, and the image surface is not effected by
overheating. As a means of determining whether a negative film has
been subject to developing processing or not, an operator may make
a visual determination and manually switch a switch or the like.
Alternatively, because the base density is extremely different
before and after developing processing, an automatic determination
may be made as to whether a negative film has been subject to
developing processing by detecting the density thereof.
* * * * *